Safety lock for revolvers



April 3, 1962 J. F. MAHAN SAFETY Loox FOR REvoLvERs Filed June 9, 1959United States Patent 3,827,674 SAFETY LOCK FR REVLVERS James F. Mahan,21 Standish St., Cambridge, Mass. Filed .lune 9, 1959, Ser. No. 819,0557 Claims. (Cl. ft2-66) This invention relates to safety mechanisms forrevolver type weapons and is particularly concerned with a new andimproved safety gun lock which may -be installed in the revolver orsimilar weapon in very much the same manner as loading the same with acartridge. This application is a continuation-in-part of my cependingapplication Serial No. 768,222, tiled October 20, 1958, `which itself isa continuation of my application Serial No. 708,538, filed January 13,1958, now abandoned.

There has been a long-felt need for a simple locking device forrevolvers to render them useless in the hands of children or of adultswho are unfamiliar with weapons. Gun dealers particularly need such adevice which, when installed in a revolver, permits handling of thefirearm by a prospective purchaser while preventing abuse of the same bycarelessly flipping open and slamming shut of the cylinder or by dryfiring in the store. lt is evident that this need is not met by anylocking type of gun rack or storage container, since the gun itself isnot completely free to be shown or handled while held in a container orrack; also the tiring mechanism itself is not locked by any of the usualcontainers or racks. Locks heretofore proposed for mounting on the gunitself have been heavy, complicated and bulky, changing the balance andfeel of the revolver so as not to lill the needs of a gun dealer.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and greatlysimplified device for locking a revolver type weapon, one which is easyto install and remove by one knowing the secret of its use and whichwill notchange the balance or materially add to the weight or interferewith handling or aiming of the weapon, but which, when in place, ishidden from sight but will nevertheless completely lock the weaponagainst operation of any of its mechanism, baffling the would-betamperer.

My novel safety locking device is featured by the provision of aspring-holding member, such as a casing, constructed and arranged to fita chamber of the cylinder of a revolver. The spring-holding member isprovided with means for anchoring it in the firing chamber of therevolver against forward movement. A plunger and a spring are mounted onthe member, the plunger being retractable against the force of thespring to a position where, when the device is inserted in the chamber,it will be wholly within the chamber, thus permitting opening andclosing of the cylinder. With the cylinder closed and the chambercontaining the device in registry with the barrel, the spring pressesthe plunger to an extended position protruding into the bore, therebylocking the revolver against both rotation and opening of the cylinderand preventing cooking of the weapon, since the firing mechanism isinterconnected with the cylinder rotating mechanism.

According to the invention, the casing and the plunger are preventedfrom separating from each other by suitable means. For example, the rimof the casing may be crimped to provide an abutment coacting with ashoulder formed on the plunger or the spring may be locked at one end tothe casing and be attached at the other end to the plunger.

Still further objects, features and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of presentlypreferred embodiments thereof taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawfice ings, in which like numerals refer to like parts in the severalviews, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view in elevation of one form of my novel safetylocking device illustrating the three components thereof, the casingbeing shown partly in section;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device of FG. 1 inassembled condition;

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation of a revolver showing in broken linesthe novel device of the invention installed in a chamber of the cylinderthereof;

1G. 4 is a sectional View on an enlarged scale taken on line 4 4 of FIG.3 showing in full lines the mode of operation of my novel locking devicewhen locked and in broken lines the manner in which the plunger thereofmay be retracted by the thumb permitting closing of the cylinder;

FiG. 5 is a view similar to FG. 4 showing how the locking plunger of thedevice may ybe retracted by pressing with a rod introduced through themuzzle when the cylinder is closed to unlock the cylinder;

FlG. 6 is a view similar to FlG. 1 of a modified form of the deviceaccording to the invention; and PEG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of astill further modified form of the device of the invention.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a spring-holdingmember for use according to the invention comprises a casing indicatedby the numeral 10. This casing carries means, as shoulder 11, foranchoring it in the tiring chamber 13 of a revolver. Conveniently it maycomprise a cartridge case of appropriate caliber. The locking rod orplunger is indicated by the numeral 12, and the coil spring by thenumeral 14. The shaft or plunger 12 ts movably within the spring 14 andthe latter is forced into the casing 10 resting against the base 16thereof. The outer end portion of the plunger 12 is provided with asomewhat rounded head 18 and a circumferential groove 20 and shoulder22. The endmost forward coil 24 of the spring 14 is forced over theshoulder 22 and locks itself securely in the groove 20. With respect tothe other end 25 of the spring 14, if the casing 10 is of the usual .22cal. cartridge, a slight internal groove 27 is found in the cartridgecase base into which will spring the last coil of the helical spring 14to be held firmly thereby. Alternative means for suitably mounting theplunger, spring, and casing will be hereinafter disclosed in connectionwith FIGS. 6 and 7.

The novel locking device of the invention is shown in assembledcondition in FG. 2. It will be observed that the spring 14 is in arelaxed condition, the end 25 held in the groove 27, and the shaft 12 isin its extended position. Pushing the shaft 12 into the casing willcause the spring 14 to be compressed, the movement of the shaft beinglimited by the base 1o.

Referring tto FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings, t-he manner ofinstalling and removing the locking device of the invention will becomeapparent. The device is placed in one of the empty chambers of thecylinder as shown in broken .lines (FIG. 4), the head 18 of the shaft isthen depressed with the fingernail or thumbnail and the cylinder closedwith the chamber which contains the device in registry with the barrel26, as shown in full lines in FIG. 4 and in broken lines in FIG. 3. Thespring 14 expands and causes the head 18 of the shaft 12 to extend intothe bore. In this condition the gun is securely locked by the shaft,since the cylinder of a modern double action revolver is revolved onestep when the hammer is cocked or the trigger pulled. Thus, if thecylinder is locked against movement, the yhammer cannot be retracted norcan the trigger be pulled.

To unlock the gun and to remove the locking device it is only necessaryto insert a cleaning or other suitable rod 30 into the barrel from themuzzle while simultaneously operating the Alatch 32 with the thumb andpressing against the side of the cylinder 34 with the index finger (FIG.5). When the rod 30 has pressed the plunger 12 back out of the chamberand into the casing a sufficient distance, its head 18, which ispreferably rounded to facilitate the action, then clears the rear edgeof the barrel 26 permitting opening of the Icylinder to the positionindicated in broken lines in FIG. 5.

In the modification shown in FIG. 6 the casing 10a is a used Icartridgecase of langer th-an .22 cal. (although this modification is alsoapplicable to smaller calibers if desired). A small slot 29 is cut inthe wall near the base 16 and when the spring 14 is installed, the endturn 25 will protrude into the slot and be held thereby. If necessary,this end turn 25 may be sprung radially outwardly prior to installationto assure its snapping into locked position. In this embodiment I havesubstituted a. standard bullet 12a for the plunger 12. Itscircumferential grooves a will receive and hold the spring 14 and itsnormally rounded nose 18a permits it to function in the same manner asthe plunger 12 of the previous embodiment.

In FIG. 7 I have illustrated still another embodiment of my novel devicewherein the plunger 12b is somewhat differently shaped, enlarged nearone end at 13 to provide a circumferential shoulder 20b. The enlargedbase portion 13 slides into the casing 10b compressing the spring 14against the `base 16. The rim 15 of the casing is then crimped inwardlyto serve as an abutment coacting with the circumferential lockingsurface for-med by the enlarged pontion 13 of the plunger 12b to holdthe latter in place. In this form of the invention the spring 14 isloosely held in the casing 10b and there is no need for its ends tointerconnect the plunger and casing.

It will be appreciated that my novel safety device furnishes a simpleinexpensive and yet positively acting lock which, when in place,effectively prevents any tampering with the revolver by unauthorizedpersons. Danger of accidental shootings by children and other personsunfamiliar with firearms is reduced. In the sporting goods store thedealer will very much appreciate the simple and yet effective means bywhich he can lock his revolvers to prevent abuse by customers orunauthorized dry tiring, while still permitting them physically tohandle the guns.

An important advantage of my revolver lock is its concealment within thegun whereby its mode of operation is not apparent tothe 4uninitiated. Ihave found that even firearm experts are completely bailied by my deviceand are unable to open the cylinder of ya thus locked revolver Withoutinstruction as to the secret Thus, gun dealers and others using Ithenovel lock may feel quite secure that customers in the store or childrenor visitors in the home will not readily solve the problem of unlockingthe locked weapon. Yet to unlock the same lby the use of a rod is butthe work of a moment when one knows how. It is evident that my devicecould be adapted to require a special type of rod or key to unlock it,but my experience with guns indicates that `gun collectors do not favorlocking devices requiring a key. Keys `are easy to lose and might not behandy when the gun is needed.

While I have herein disclosed and described presently preferred formsvof the invention, it will nevertheless be understood that the same issusceptible of various modifications and changes within the skill of theart. Therefore, it is not intended that the invention be limited to thespecific form disclosed and described herein but only by the properscope to be afforded to the appended claims.

I claim: l. In combination with a gun having a barrel `and a memberprovided with at least one cartridge-holding chamber, said member beingmovable transversely of the axis of said barrel from la closed positionwherein said chamber is in registry with said barrel to an open positionout of registry therewith for loading and unloading, a safety lockingdevice for said gun adapted to be installed in said chamber forpreventing movement of said member `from said closed to said openposition, said device comprising a casing fitting said chamber and aplunger and spring mounted in said casing, said plunger beingretractable against said spring from an extended to a retractedposition, the overall length of said device with said plunger extendedbeing ygreater than that of said chamber so that said plunger when soextended will pro- -trude into said barrel and ilock said member inregistry therewith, and the overall length of said device with saidplunger retracted being no greater than that of said chamber so thatsaid member can be moved between its open and closed positions, saiddevice including means preventing said plunger and casing from comingapart.

2. In combination with a revolver having a cylinder containing a firingchamber and a barrel in which the cylinder is movable transversely ofthe axis of the barrel from a closed position wherein the firing chamberis in registry with said barrel to an open position out of registrytherewith for loading and unloading, a safety locking device for saidrevolver adapted to be installed in said firing chamber for preventingmovement of said cylinder from said closed to said open position, saiddevice comprising a spring-holding member for insertion in said firingchamber, means on said spring-holding member for anchoring the same insaid chamber against forward movement, a plunger mounted on saidspringholding member for movement to and from a normal extended positionand a retracted position, said plunger projecting beyond the forward endof said chamber when in its said extended position, and means delimitingthe movement of said plunger in the direction of said extended positionincluding a spring member on said springholding member for urging saidplunger away from said retracted position and a shoulder on said plungercoacting with one of said members, whereby said plunger when in normalextended position will protrude from said tiring chamber into the barrelof said revolver locking the same together and when retracted willpermit relative transverse movement between the same.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein a portion of saidspring member is connected to said shoulder and another portion thereofis connected to said spring-holding member.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein said spring-holdingmember comprises a hollow casing receiving said spring member and aportion of said plunger, said spring member having a portion thereofconnected to said shoulder and said casing having a recess receiving andholding another portion of said spring member, and wherein saidanchoring means comprises an external shoulder formed on the rearportion of said casing.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein said plunger isprovided with at least one circumferential groove forwardly of saidfirst-named shoulder receiving the first-named portion of said springmember whereby the said connection therebetween is effected.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein said shoulder on saidplunger coacts with a portion of said spring-holding member.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 6 wherein said spring-holdingmember comprises a hollow casing, the portion whereof which coacts withsaid shoulder on said plunger comprising inwardly crimped portions ofthe rim thereof, and wherein said anchoring means comprises an externalshoulder formed on the rear portion of said casing.

(References on following page) References Cited in the le of this patentUNITED STATES PATENTS Wesson Dec. 22, 1896 Beckwith Feb. 17, 1903 HaleDec. 15, 1914 5 Boyce May 18, 1926 6 Allen June 22, 1943 Parker Aug. 17,1943 Slockbower Jan. 4, 1949 Porter Sept. 12, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTSGermany Nov. 17, 1905

